TUESDAY, DEC. 5, 2017

TRANSITIONS -- The Outdoors Blog is evolving. After nearly 41 years as Outdoors editor at The Spokesman-Review, Rich Landers has officially retired. He will continue writing occasionally as an Outdoors correspondent, but the reins of the department and Outdoor coverage have been handed to the...

THURSDAY, NOV. 30, 2017

WILDLIFE WATCHING -- Bald eagles by the hundreds this week have smashed the record for their annual gathering at Lake Coeur d'Alene to feed on spawning kokanee. A record 314 bald eagles was counted today in the survey of the eagle season by Carrie Hugo,...

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 29, 2017

GRANTS -- The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) is seeking volunteers to help evaluate proposals for grants that have funded prized land acquisitions for wildlife and trails and facilities across the state. RCO is looking to fill vacancies on three advisory committees that...

TUESDAY, NOV. 28, 2017

WINTERSPORTS -- The December issue of Powder Magazine lists Spokane as one of four up and coming 'Ski Towns' as opposed to the storied locales of Jackson, Telluride, Mammoth and Sun Valley. The reason: You don't have to be freakin' filthy rich in order to...

SATURDAY, NOV. 25, 2017

WILDLIFE WATCHING -- With no snow on the ground, a white snowy owl stands out in the Lincoln County landscape on Saturday. Snowy owls are arctic birds that come south as far as the northern tier of states to hunt rodents during winter. They're stunning...

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 22, 2017

PUBLIC LANDS -- Colville National Forest officials have lifted the temporary road closure that has been in place since June on the lower portion of Forest Road 2220 (Sullivan Creek Road). The road has been closed due to hazard trees that burned this summer from...

PARKS -- Washington State Parks are offering their own sort of deal for Black Friday -- free access. Entrance fees and Discover Pass requirements for vehicles will be waived on the day after Thanksgiving. The passes cost $10 a day or $30 for a year....

TUESDAY, NOV. 21, 2017

WILDLIFE -- A federal court has blocked thousands of domestic sheep from being released to graze in eastern Idaho where environmental groups say they jeopardize a small herd of bighorn sheep with deadly viruses, the Associated Press reports. U.S. Magistrate Judge Candy Dale on Monday...

WILDLIFE WATCHING -- The number of bald eagles increased nearly four-fold since last week for their annual gathering to feast on kokanee spawning in the northeastern corner of Lake Coeur d'Alene. Carrie Hugo, U.S. Bureau of Land Management wildlife biologist, counted 146 bald eagles today...

HUNTING -- The discovery of chronic wasting disease in free-ranging deer in Montana this fall means restrictions for sportsmen who come from CWD-free states to hunt deer, elk or moose there. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has filed an emergency rule that adds...

MONDAY, NOV. 20, 2017

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT -- Two people from Spokane have been appointed to a 20-member advisory committee to help the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife a with strategic planning, development of legislative proposals and future budget requests. David Cloe of the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council and...

FISHING -- The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has scheduled public meetings in a step toward revising management of the state's salmon and steelhead fishing guide industry. All meetings are scheduled from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.: East Wenatchee: Nov. 20, Douglas County PUD...

SUNDAY, NOV. 19, 2017

RIVERS -- Boggan's Oasis, an iconic cafe and fishing staging area on the Grande Ronde at SR 129 near Anatone, Wash., burned to the ground during the night into this morning. No injuries reported. For decades, Boggan's has served as a base for getting fishing...

FRIDAY, NOV. 17, 2017

The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour lineup of films starting tonight in Spokane was decided this afternoon, and ticket holders should be thrilled with the mix of adventure, adrenaline, culture and humor...

HUNTING -- The last of Washington's fall general seasons for hunting wild turkey starts Monday, Nov. 20, and runs through Dec. 15 in Game Management Units 105-154 and units 162-186. The season is designed to reduce the number of birds congregated on lowland areas for...

THURSDAY, NOV. 16, 2017

FISHING -- Washington is opening a harvest season for hatchery steelhead under 28 inches in the lower Snake River starting Saturday. Following are details just announced by the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Action: Opens lower Snake River to retention of hatchery steelhead measuring under...

WILDLIFE WATCHING -- Kokanee are spawning and dying in North Idaho's two largest lakes and bald eagles have begun congregating for the annual feast. Dozens of eagles are congregating at Granite Creek and in the Bayview shoreline area to take advantage of revived kokanee fisheries...

TRAILS -- A statewide non-profit outdoor service group is looking for more members to achieve its simple goal of keeping Idaho's nonmotorized trails open and usable. The Idaho Trails Association is looking for more members to join trail building and maintenance projects next season, said...

POACHING -- A Spokane man and his twin brother have been charged with 16 crimes involved with the illegal killing of eight bull elk in what Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials describe as years of poaching activity on a Fergus County ranch. James Stephen...

FISHING – Anglers will be fishing for more than $10,000 in cash and prizes under a new format when the 2017 Lake Pend Oreille Fall Thanksgiving Challenge Derby kicks off on Saturday. The annual event sponsored by the Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club runs through...

ENDANGERED SPECIES -- An Arizona-based environmental group is suing the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for access to some public records on wolf deaths in the state. The Center for Biological Diversity is seeking records about the killing of a wolf from the Smackout...

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 15, 2017

WINTERSPORTS -- Ski areas opening their lifts this weekend include all the resorts in our area, although Silver Mountain's opening only one day for a "sneak peak." Here's the latest, with links for more info on your favorite: Mount Spokane, 49 Degrees North and Lookout...

CONSERVATION – A Sandpoint videographer has pledged to donate a $10,000 prize to to a local land trust project if enough people go online to vote for his film, “Land is my Sasquatch.” The video by Scott Rulander is among 10 finalists in a competition...

PREDATORS -- Oregon has posted an online quiz to help people – especially hunters – bone up on telling the difference between wolves and coyotes. The quiz found at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife website shows photos of the animals at various ages....

TUESDAY, NOV. 14, 2017

POACHING -- Public sentiment is clearly behind the landowner who used his tractor to, shall we say, immobilize the pickup of elk poachers who were trespassing. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife police are hesitant to say that's the proper way to respond. There could...